Take The Lead is sharing your Power To Change Stories here, in our weekly newsletter, and in an upcoming ebook collection. Each week we highlight true, personal stories from around the world of how you are using your power to activate change. Together we can support each other in the mission to reach gender and racial parity in leadership across all sectors. Submit your stories here.
By Amber Duncan
When a bankruptcy attorney looked me in the eye and said, “I’ll see you back here again,” something shifted in me. I was humiliated, broke, and a mother of five—but at that moment, I became dangerous. I thought, The hell you will, and walked out of that office with a mission: to make sure no one else would be spoken to like that again.
Read MoreBy Pauline Rogers
For decades, I’ve been known as a steady, boots-on-the-ground advocate for formerly incarcerated people in Mississippi. My comfort zone was local jails, prisons, and reentry housing—places where I could touch lives up close. But over the past year, I realized that to truly create sustainable change, I had to shift not only systems but also myself.
I began saying yes to arenas that once felt unfamiliar—national policy roundtables, university panels, even Zoom conferences where I wasn’t the oldest but often the only voice with lived experience leading the conversation. It was uncomfortable at first. I was used to doing the work, not explaining it in soundbites or theory. But I embraced it because I knew our stories needed to be heard where decisions are made.
Read MoreBy Melissa Morris
In both my professional functions as an adjunct professor and a marketing manager at my family business, I have always been proactive and initiated changes meant to improve the quality of life for other people. I pride myself as a professor on my ability to engage students in a collaborative environment that seeks to maximize participation among students. I strive to make my classroom a safe zone where students are free to express their thoughts and ideas, engage in discussions, and collaborate on different projects. This has improved not only their learning experience but also helped them gain collaboration and communication skills.
Read MoreBy Janie Blouin Grondin
The first time I truly understood the power of subtle biases was before a major presentation to a group of C-level executives. As I walked in, one of them greeted me with, "Ah, it's always a pleasure to have the beautiful Janie here to present her recommendations!"
Before I could react, my then-boss immediately interjected: "Her name is not ‘the beautiful Janie’—it’s Janie."
Read MoreBy Kasey Kelly
Women’s History Month is a time to celebrate the strength, determination, and achievements of women throughout history. It’s also a time to reflect on how we can uplift and support one another.
As a military spouse, I know firsthand the challenges that come with this life. Frequent relocations stall career growth, create employment gaps, and make it difficult to build professional networks. Many of us find ourselves stationed in rural areas with limited job opportunities, making career advancement even harder. Military spouses face an unemployment rate nearly three times higher than civilians and are often underemployed in roles that don’t match their skills or education.
Read MoreBy Chelsea Haskins
Working in a male-dominated industry presents challenges, but I’ve used them as fuel to lead, advocate, and drive meaningful change. As a woman in cannabis, my commitment to expanding safe access, advancing policy reform, and amplifying operators' voices has shaped my career. I’ve helped push the industry forward by increasing business opportunities, advocate for fair regulations, and created pathways for sustainable growth.
By Dinah Chapman
From the moment I became a mom, everything shifted. While on maternity leave with my first son, Cash, I started what I thought would be a small side hustle—Little Trouble. It quickly grew from a side project into a business that replaced my corporate salary.
In corporate America, I saw pressure to give everything to a company, often at the expense of personal well-being. Leaving corporate America (and physical America) was a necessary shift to recalibrate and scale a purpose-driven brand with the flexibility I was looking for while also raising two kids.
Read MoreBy Narmin Jarrous
I’ve never been someone capable of complacency - whether that’s because I live in chronic pain and refuse to tolerate one iota more of discomfort is yet to be determined. What I do know is that complacency has no place in my life, career, or the cannabis industry.
When I first entered this space, I saw far too much stagnation. Licensing regulations that didn’t make sense, social equity plans that rang hollow, and marketing strategies that catered to one very particular type of man. Today’s cannabis industry wasn’t built for people like me; women, especially women of color, weren’t considered. That needed to change.
Read MoreBy Tricia Symbersma
Gratitude opens doors. For me, it led to becoming a HeartMath® Certified Trainer and, ultimately, to HeartWorks. I discovered it is not about mending something that is broken, it's more about encountering and reconnecting with the energy already present in all of us. This realization is what I regard as HeartWorks, where science, art, and mindfulness, foster a new way for people to experience daily alignment and personal growth.
By Tiffany Antoine
The first time I understood just how overwhelming spirituality is to people around me, I was taken back. For what is supposed to bring clarity and peace, it definitely felt shrouded or hidden behind complex processes, extensive commitments, and expensive courses. I knew there had to be an easier way to approach it.
To do just that, I created Meditating Human, integrating ancient spirituality concepts into the framework of real life. The idea is to make practices practical rather than shrouded in the rituals and other daunting practices of the past, making them more approachable and relevant to modern people and professionals.
Read MoreBy Kayla Ende
The first time a mentor told me that gearing jewelry sales towards women was new territory, I was surprised and skeptical. After all, jewelry is traditionally associated with women and femininity. We’re the main market for it- how could gearing sales towards us be “new”?
Read MoreBy Marianela Nanninga
I’m the Founder and CEO of ToDo Robotics, where we’re not just building robots—we’re reimagining industries and redefining leadership. From revolutionizing hospitality and food service to blazing a new trail for automation, my journey has been fueled by a passion for innovation, a commitment to inclusion, and a relentless drive to make technology a force for good.
Read MoreBy Lynn Margherio
One day, while helping my young niece get dressed, I noticed her closetful of beautiful, outgrown clothes that could benefit another child. I imagined how many other kids had closets filled with quality clothes they no longer needed. That was my “aha” moment.
Read MoreBy Naz Aksu
In the male-dominated jewelry industry, I’ve witnessed how traditional, top-down leadership often overshadows collaborative voices. Early in my career, I chose a different path, prioritizing empathy and inclusion. By encouraging open dialogue, my team and I co-created a new customer service model rooted in mutual respect and innovation. The results—improved morale, stronger teamwork, and exceptional customer satisfaction—reinforced my belief that empathy is a strength in leadership.
Read MoreBy Esther Choy
After the election, I was in a discussion group where the leader wanted to create space for people to share their feelings. The leader assumed that everyone was feeling devastated. Anyone who may have felt differently faced a higher barrier to share authentically. Finally, one person expressed he felt exasperated by the whole thing. He didn’t vote, and he didn’t want to hear anymore about it. No one knew how to respond to his outburst.
Read MoreBy Susan B. Eirich, Ph.D.
I’ve had the privilege to live with and learn from the wild animals I’ve rescued and rehabilitated - wolves, bears, coyotes, foxes, buffalo and other mammals native to the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem. These experiences have shown me something undeniable: the profound connection between humanity and nature, and the transformative impact wildlife has on human well-being.
Read MoreBy Helen Curran
My passion for supporting mothers stems from my own experiences. Having navigated the challenges of motherhood while building a career in international business and marketing, I understand the unique needs of this audience. From my early days in Europe, working across Spain and France, to honing my skills at brands like Tommee Tippee and Berghaus, I've always been driven to make a difference.
Read MoreBy Laurel Mintz
The most impactful moment was the moment I decided to start Fabric VC. I remember starting to research venture capital after the idea was planted in my head of potentially launching a fund. At that stage of my life I had been an LP and had been investing with impact, but I didn’t really know the numbers. I was shocked when I first came across the 2%. If you don’t know. 2% and really less than 2% is the percentage of venture capital dollars that are allocated to diverse-led businesses globally. This was a shocking number to me, and ultimately was the reason that I launched Fabric VC. I thought, ”If not me, who…if not now, when?”
Read MoreBy Sharrie Woodring
When I was asked to share how I've empowered women in my industry, my first reaction was to laugh. I’ve spent the last 16 years balancing a demanding career with raising children, leaving little time for leadership activities.
However, upon reflection, I realized leadership isn’t about grand gestures but rather the everyday moments that shape us. It’s about quiet resilience, small connections, and the support we give each other, often without even realizing its impact.
Read MoreBy Iveta Kuzela
Growing up in a traditional Eastern European society, I always questioned the rigid expectations placed on women because I could never seem to fit into them. This left me feeling like an outcast, constantly second-guessing myself and my place in the world. To cope, I made myself small, dimming my light so that others would feel comfortable around me, believing this would help me belong.
Read More
